Niger: 500 hectares of degraded pastoral lands restored in Gaya

Gaya, June 5, 2026 — The urban commune of Gaya has initiated restoration work on 500 hectares of degraded pastoral lands, funded by the Integrated Urban Development and Multisectoral Resilience Project (PIDUREM). The groundbreaking ceremony, held this Friday, marked the launch of operations at two key sites: one in Gaya and another in Tara.

Early in the morning, the Prefect of the Gaya department presided over the ceremony, symbolically breaking ground with a ceremonial shovel alongside the municipal delegate, the prefecture’s secretary-general, the canton chief’s representative, the PIDUREM regional coordinator, and the project team. Also in attendance were the Deputy Regional Director of the Environment for Dosso, the departmental director of the Environment, representatives from ten partner NGOs, the Tara village chief, and a cross-section of local residents.

Revitalizing pastoral ecosystems

The PIDUREM-funded initiative aims to rehabilitate severely degraded pastoral plots, safeguard soil against erosion, and enhance the carrying capacity of the land for livestock. Key components of the project include reforestation efforts, the installation of anti-erosion barriers, the construction of bypass structures, and the rehabilitation of access roads to streamline pastoral activities and monitoring.

Building local resilience and economic opportunities

According to officials, these interventions are designed to bolster community resilience against the impacts of climate change while preserving natural resources. The PIDUREM regional coordinator emphasized that the project will generate temporary employment for nearby populations, providing immediate economic benefits during the implementation phase.

This initiative is part of a broader regional strategy by PIDUREM to curb land degradation, strengthen food security, and mitigate conflicts between farmers and herders. The project will include ongoing technical and environmental monitoring to assess the effectiveness of the interventions and adapt practices accordingly.

Direct benefits and collaborative efforts

The project will directly benefit pastoral households and herders in neighboring villages, whose grazing routes will be restored and secured. Partner NGOs, integral to the implementation, will conduct awareness campaigns to promote sustainable land management and ensure the maintenance of completed works. Work has already begun, with an initial phase of land preparation and planting slated for the coming weeks. Regular evaluations and progress reports will be produced to ensure transparency and inform future disbursements from funding partners.